ACROBAT XI PRO SHUTTING DOWN

[dean springthorpe]

Hi anyone.

Have started having issues with Acrobat XI Pro version just shutting down after about 5 seconds.

Have unistalled and re-installed and same is happening. This wasn't happeniong pre new year and worked fine until Dec 2019.

Anyone able to advise what is going on and how to fix it?

Thanks

Dean

[Jacki_G · Accepted solution]

These are the steps I used for Windows 10 Pro. If you have a different operating system, your steps could look slightly different but hopefully, it will still be helpful to you.

1. Click the search icon next to the Windows icon and type “Firewall” to find your firewall settings

1. You should get a list that looks something like this
   
   
   
2. Click Windows Defender Firewall. You should now see something like this
   
   
   
3. Click Advanced Settings
   
   
   
4. Click Inbound Rules
   
   
   
5. Click “New Rule”
   
   
   
6. Click Program, then Next
   
   
   
7. Click “This program path” and type the path or browse to where Acrobat.exe is located.
   
   ** Most likely here: C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat 11.0\Acrobat
   Click Next
   
   
8. Click “Block the connection”, click Next
   
   
   
9. Click Next again
   
   
10. Name the Rule, click Finish.
    
    
11. Go back to step #4 and click “Outbound Rule”
    
    
12. Repeat steps 5-10 to create the outbound rule

Good Luck, I hope it works for you.

[try67]

Use a different browser to access it (like Firefox) or an FTP application (like SmartFTP).

[stephkp]

Thank you for the Firefox recommendation! I tried on Chrome, Edge and Explorer - all were blocking the ftp site. It's downloading now, so fingers crossed!!

[stephkp]

The update worked, and all seems to be working fine so far. Thanks so much for your help!

[scotschwallenberg]

I am having problems installing the patch.  When I attempt to install it, I receive the following error message;

[Mohamed28867898kc98]

Can you send the link 

[Test Screen Name]

The link has been sent many, many times. ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/acrobat/win/11.x/

You need a dedicated FTP client, your browser will not work.

[Bob Seaspray]

I have been an Acrobat Pro user for many, many years. I have held and currently hold a valid Acrobat 11 Pro license. I go to many remote sites here in WA, Australia where the internet is at best sketchy if available at all. I do not want any cloud-based applications that confirm the app via the internet. Adobe has killed that for me, Acrobat 11 pro no longer runs on my laptop, it shuts down quickly as many others here suffered. My solution is amazingly simple - I have moved to Nitro Pro. It lacks a few of the features I loved and used in Acrobat true. But it WORKS. Sorry Adobe, but you have lost me as a customer. I understand cloud-based application. But to not offer both, cloud based and non-cloud-based applications is just plain dumb.

[try67]

I agree with the general sentiment, but it's important to understand that no version of Acrobat is "cloud-based". They are all local applications, installed fully on your computer. The only thing that is cloud-based is the licensing of it.

Until recently you could activate the "perpetual license" version of Acrobat over the phone, but now it has to be done online. Adobe failed to provide an explanation as to why this change happened. I think they're just trying to cut costs on human phone support and did not realize (or care) that it can affect quite a lot of people with limited or no internet connection, such as yourself.

What's still not clear is whether the classic version of Acrobat (currently Acrobat 2020) only requires online access for a single time, to initially activate the license, or does it sometimes "call home" to validate it once more. If the former then you could still use it in your scenario. You just need to activate it on your laptop once where there is internet connection, and then go out to the field where there isn't, and it should still work.

[Jacki_G]

I agree whole heartedly. Whether it's the app or the validation that requires the internet, it doesn't matter if it won't work.

I just had the same issue again after Windows updated and I installed Norton. The solution is simple though. Just block Acrobat's access to the internet and ver 11.0 will work just fine. Depending on how your system is set up, will determine how you do that. Before Norton, I created the inbound and outbound rules described earlier in this thread. After Norton, I simply went into Norton's settings and clicked the switch to block internet access for Adobe and it's working perfectly again. 

And for those who don't understand why I don't just upgrade, I don't like Nitro at all, I have custom scripts I use in ver 11 and I need to be able to work when I don't have internet. So the new versions don't work for me.

[andrey15A9 · Accepted solution]

CORRECT SOLUTION:

1. Install official Microsoft Compatibility Administrator found here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/get-started/adk-install#adkwin10

2. start "Compatibility Administrator (64-bit).exe" in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Windows Kits\Windows ADK\Application Compatibility Toolkit\Developer and Tester Tools\

3. expand "System Database" > expand "Applications" > find and click "adobe creative suit 6" > on the right window "right" click pdapp.exe "Disable Entry"

4. Run Acrobat XI Pro, now insted of crashing it will show a "new" adobe activation agreement (this is what was crashing the acrobat x pro), you can now accept it and Acrobat XI Pro runs with 0 issues in 2021. (no need for any compatibly modes). 

[SKFish]

I have tried several of the "Fixes" and all seems to work for a while, but then the problem reappears.   The only thing that seems to work for me is to disconnect from my router then open a pdf and leave it open minimized then reconnect to the router.

open pdf don't close randomly then.   This leads me to believe that blocking inbound rules is the right approch but acrobat.exe is not the right program to block.   Maybe someone can figure out which on is the right one.

[AnandSri]

Hello!

I hope you are doing well, and thanks for reaching out.

Are you experiencing this issue with Acrobat 11, which is mentioned in the original post? If yes, Acrobat 11 is now an end-of-life and support product, and its support ended on October 15, 2017. See this article for more details: https://adobe.ly/4e3Ms14

So, any steps may or may not work for Acrobat 11. Adobe strongly recommends that you update to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Acrobat Reader. By updating installations to the latest versions, you benefit from the latest functional enhancements and improved security measures.

Thanks,

Anand Sri.

[SKFish]

NO!

I am NOT doing well!

Acrobat 11 worked perfectly fine until i had a drive failure and i had to reload on a new drive.

NOW when i open acrobat it runs for a few minutes then shuts down.

If I disconnect my computer from the internet Acrobat continues to work perfectly. This tells me that Adobe is shutting down the program in order to FORCE you to upgrade.

There was a upgrade to Acrobat that I understand solves this problem which is most likely the reason i have not had a problem until now, but it appears that it has been scrubbed from the internet for the same reason(forced upgrade).

I am not a big business that can afford to be replacing my software whenever I am forced to .

I paid good money for the use of this program and I am very upset that these tactics are employed to force an upgrade.

UPSET and NOT doing well!

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

I suspect your version is trying to "phone home" to validate the serial number. Unforunately, the validation servers are long gone. When it is not on the internet, it can't validate. 

Other than shutting down the old servers, Adobe is doing nothing to shut your software down.

[SKFish]

So if it's not validated why does it continue to run without any problem when my computer is disconnected from the internet?
Once you disconnect from the internet and open acrobat you can reconnect and it will continue to run fine.   New instances will run fine also.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

There is a grace period before the software has to check in. I have no idea how long it is. Again, it's just a suspicion. 

[SKFish]

This is like going to a restuarant and while eating they come to you and say they have decided to close early and you have to leave without finishing you meal!

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

More like an "all you can eat" that puts a limit on either the amount you can eat or how long you can stay in the restaurant. (Not uncommon by the way...)

PS: Is your name "Scott"?

[scotschwallenberg]

one "t" please.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

My question was for @SKFish. I was wondering if it was someone I used to work with years ago.

[SKFish]

No.

[Kevinm363]

What do you expect out of this company? Crap

[SKFish]

I would have to update several other programs that i use wit hversion 11.  I just want to know what i have to hack to make 11 work corectly again

[Amal.]

Hi there 

Hope you are doing well and sorry for the trouble you are experiencing. 

Acrobat XI is an Old and EOL application it is no longer supported and not compatible with the latest Mac and Win OS - (https://adobe.ly/4maMbfv) 

Hope this information will help 

Regards

Amal

[Lanceparker]

I have also been having the same problem with Adobe Acrobat XI closing after a few seconds. I was able to get it to work by pure accident! I decided to give up trying to get Adobe to run so I looked for a free PDF program and I found SumatraPDF. I loaded it and it seems to work fine. Out of curiosity I tried my Adobe XI, and nnow it is working perfectly! I can only assume that loading and executing SumatraPDF did something to the Adobe files that cured the problem.

I know this is WAY off the beaten path but it is the only thing I have tried that actually worked.

Good Luck.

PS: I don't think it appropriate for Adobe to damage a software application that has been bought and paid for.